Monday, February 8, 2016

Jackson State icon Willie Richardson dies

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State legend Willie Richardson died on Monday afternoon, a university spokesperson confirmed.

Sharon-Grisham Stewart, Hinds County chief medical examiner/coroner, confirmed that Richardson died of natural causes.

Richardson, 76, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He played nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Baltimore Colts and appeared in Super Bowl III. Richardson was first-team All Pro in 1967 and made the Pro Bowl in '67 and '68.

"He could do anything with the ball (as a player). Last time I played golf with him he shot even par at age 75. Everything he did athletically was smooth. He made everything look easy," Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum historian Rick Cleveland said. "He always had a kind word for everybody. Last time I saw him was at the press conference to name Fred McNair the head coach at Alcorn (last week). Here's a Jackson State guy showing up for the head coach at the rival school and he did it just because he said so many times in life people don't get what they deserve. He wanted to be there for Fred because he was getting what he long deserved. He was just a kind guy."

Richardson was drafted by the..

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